One pound of bell beans. Limit 5 lbs.

A vigorous adaptable type of fava bean,

often mixed with peas, vetch, radish, and wheat for cover cropping.

Grows 3-6 feet, produces much organic matter for composting, and fixes nitrogen if inoculant is used. Strong root system brings up nutrients and conditions soil.

Plant in fall. Matures March to May, attracting many beneficial insects.

BOTANICAL NAME: Vicia faba

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:

Sow favas from October in the North to as late as mid-November in California. The best stands are obtained by planting 3 inches deep, but can also be broadcast if raked in. Be sure to use our Garden Combo inoculant for best results. Winter hardy to USDA Zone 8. Matures in 11-26 weeks depending on severity of the winter. If growing for beans, harvest period is 4-8 weeks.

These favas are a cool-season crop overwintering in zone 8 and warmer. Their roots improve soil texture and put nitrogen into the soil (use garden combo inoculant). They can provide a trellis for other compost crops like vetch or field peas to grow up. In zones where they winterkill, favas may be sown earlier so that by the time they freeze out, they have made some nitrogen, biomass, and a scaffold for hardy climbers like vetch. While this is primarily a compost crop, these beans also make good eating and are so used in the many part of the world.